Welcome

Barbados is the eastern most Caribbean island. It is located at 13.4N, 54.4W. The island, which is less that one million years old,  was created by the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates, along with a volcanic eruption. Later coral formed, accumulating to approx. 300 feet. It is geologically unique, being actually two land masses that merged together over the years.

Very Early.

The history of the early settlement of Barbados is being rewritten based on recent archaeological discoveries unearthed at the site of Port St. Charles. Artifacts and evidence points to settlement some time around 1623 B.C.

The first indigenous people were Amerindians who arrived here from Venezuela. Paddling long dugout canoes they crossed oceans and currents that challenge modern sailing vessels. On the north end of Venezuela a narrow sea channel called the Dragons mouth acts as a funnel to the Caribbean sea and the nearest Island of Trinidad.  Its a formidable passage of swift flowing water and cross currents. It is dangerous water for an open dugout canoe. But they came, families and villages, adventurers, descendants of the the first people who traveled across the Alaska land bridge, down through Canada and the Americas to the South.

They made their new home in Barbados along the coast, leaving behind hardly a trace, only a hint of evidence for the archeologist to date and dream about.  Fragments of tools made of shell, utensils, refuse and burial places convey but a mystery of their time.

Amerindian Civilisation.

The Arawaks were short, olive-skinned people who bound their foreheads during infancy to slope it into a point. They considered this along with black and white body painting to be attractive. The Caiques (chiefs) and influential members of the tribe wore nose plugs and/or rings made of copper and gold alloys (History of Barbados). They were an agricultural people and grew cotton, cassava, corn, peanuts, guavas, and papaws (papaya). The cotton was wove and used for armbands and hammocks. Cassava was ground and grated to be made into casareep, a seasoning used in cooking. The Arawaks also used harpoons, nets, and hooks, to fish for food (History of Barbados).

1200 Carib Indians

In 1200, the Arawaks were taken over by the Caribs. The Caribs were a taller and stronger Amerindian tribe than the Arawaks. They were also cannibals. They were a warlike and savage people who are reported to have barbecued their captives and washed them down with cassava beer. In the History of Barbados, for example, it is reported that Caribs ate an entire French crew in 1596. They were incredibly accurate bowmen and used powerful poison to paralyze their prey (History of Barbados).

Portugese

The Portugese came to Barbados en route to Brazil. It is here that the island was named Los Barbados (bearded-ones) by the Portugese explorer Pedro a Campos. It was so named, presumably, after the islands fig trees, who have a beard – like resemblance.
 

1492 Spanish

Despite the Caribs' ruthless warlike abilities, the island was taken over by the Spanish in 1492. The Spanish required brutal slavery of the Caribs. The latter and the contagious European small pox and tuberculosis ended the Caribs' existence (History of Barbados). Spain, although, passed Barbados over in favor of the larger Caribbean islands (History of European Overseas Exploration and Empires). This left the island open for anyone who wanted to colonize it.
 

1625 – 1644 – English Colonisation

The first English ship touched the island on May 14th 1625 under the command of Captain John Powell. The island was therefore claimed on behalf of King James I.

On February 17th 1627, Captain Henry Powell landed with a party of 80 settlers and 10 slaves to occupy and settle the island. This expedition landed in Holetown formally known as Jamestown. The colonists established a House of Assembly in 1639. It was the 3rd ever Parliamentary Democracy in the world (Barbados History).

People with good financial backgrounds and social connections with England were allocated land. Within a few years much of the land had been deforested to make way for tobacco and cotton plantations.

During the 1630’s, sugar cane was introduced to the agriculture. The production of sugar, tobacco and cotton was heavily reliant on the indenture of servants. White civilians who wanted to emigrate overseas could do so by signing an agreement to serve a planter in Barbados for a period of 5 or 7 years. To meet the labor demands, servants were also derived from kidnapping and convicted criminals were shipped over. Descendants of the white slaves and indentured labour (referred to as Red Legs) still live in Barbados, they live amongst the black population in St. Martin River and other east coast regions. At one time they lived in Caves in this region.

1644 – 1700 – Sugar and Slavery

A potential market formed for slaves and sugar-making machinery by the Dutch Merchants who were to supply Barbados with their requirements of forced labour from West Africa. The slaves came from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon. Many slaves did not survive the journey from Africa, but many thousands still reached their destination.

The Barbadians dominated the Caribbean Sugar Industry in these early years. The sugar plantation owners were powerful and successful businessmen who had arrived in Barbados in the early years.

Many natural disasters occurred in the late 1600’s, such as the locust plague of 1663, the Bridgetown fire and a major hurricane in 1667. Drought in 1668 ruined some planters and excessive rain in 1669 added to their financial problems. However, investment continued in sugar and slaves and were seen to be hopeful about future prospects.

By 1720 Barbadians were no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry. They had been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and the Jamaicans.

1807 – 1838 – Abolition, rebellion and emancipation

After slavery was abolished in 1834, many of the new citizens of Barbados took advantage of the superb education available on the island. After these citizens had been educated, they wanted something more than working in the cane fields. Some of them took up prominent office in Barbados. Others worked common jobs, and still other stayed in the cane fields (Barbados History).

Many people were drawn to Barbados because of the climate and slow pace of life. The island was thought of as a cure for "the vapors" (Barbados History). Even Major George Washington visited the island with his tuberculosis-stricken half brother" in hope of ameliorating his illness (Barbados History)

Slavery, abolished in 1834, was followed by a 4 year apprenticeship period where free men continued to work a 45-hour week without pay in exchange for living in the tiny huts provided by the plantation owners.  Freedom from slavery was celebrated in 1838 at the end of the apprentice period with over 70,000 Barbadians of African decent taking to the streets with the Barbados folk song:

See the Bussa  statue, the work of Barbados' best known sculptor Karl Broodhagen. It is in memory of Bussa, a slave who inspired a revolt against slavery in Barbados.

1961-1966 Independence

Barbados was first occupied by the British in 1627 and remained a British colony until internal autonomy was granted  in 1961. The Island gained full independence in 1966, and maintains ties to the Britain monarch represented in Barbados by the Governor General. It is a member of the Commonwealth.   The first leader of Barbados as a free nation was Errol Walton Barrow, of the Democratic Labour Party. The other major political party is the Barbados Labour Party, led by the current Prime Minister - The Right Honourable Owen Arthur. In 1984, the National Democratic Party was formed.